ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that the tenacity and skill of members of the community and their supporters, and their local, national, and international visibility, are the principal reasons for the political interest in exempting them from relocation. It explores a solid body of anthropological literature on political arenas in large scale societies, with applications in the forefront of interest. There is an intimate relationship among land use, occupancy, and religion in Navajo culture that ties some traditional Navajos to the land so strongly that they would rather die than move. Navajos at Big Mountain, Arizona, faced with the likelihood of forced relocation, asked to have these ties made known to persons in Washington in hopes of having a legislated relocation decision reversed. Members of the Big Mountain community have been instrumental in keeping the issues of relocation before the public and in putting pressure on the Relocation Commission and the Federal Government.
